Container feeding and cover applying apparatus



May 6, 1952 G. HAMMOND CONTAINER FEEDING AND COVER APPLYING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 16, 1950 J lm - INVENTORi M M y 6, 1952 G. HAMMOND CONTAINER FEEDING AND COVER APPLYING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 16, 1950 6 Sheets-s 2 M NN INVENTOR,

May 6, 1952 G. HAMMOND CONTAINER FEEDING AND COVER APPLYING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 16, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVE OR- y 6, 1952 G. HAMMOND 2,595,849

CONTAINER FEEDING AND COVER APPLYING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 16, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 y 6, 1952 G. HAMMOND 2,595,849

CONTAINER FEEDING AND COVER APPLYING APPARATUS Filed Aug. -16, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet e IN V EN TOR.

Patented May 6, 1952 CONTAINER FEEDING AND COVER APPLYING APPARATUS Gordon Hammond, Ashland, Va., assignor to Keynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a cor notation of Delaware Application August 16, 1950, Serial No. 179,716

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a container feeding and cover applying apparatus.

It is an object of the present invention to pro-. vide in a container feeding and cover applying apparatus positive mechanism for dropping the containers one at a time from a stack of such containers deposited and held in such mechanism, and wherein this mechanism can be easily connected to the drive mechanism for the conveyor mechanism on which the containers are deposited and for the cover applying mechanism so that all of the mechanisms will be operated in proper timed relation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide in a container depositing mechanism for removing containers from the bottom of a stack of the same, one by one, wherein plural sharp edges are thrust into the stack of containers and under the outwardly extending flange of one container and over the edge of the container just below and wherein, at the proper timed interval, a sharp edge engaging with the outwardly extending flange of the one container will hold that container while the movable sharp edge, engaging with the upper edge of the COD-I tainer just below, can be tilted to positively effect the disengagement of the container below from the container which is being held by its flanges, and wherein the bottom container which had been supported by under members engaging with" .5

ing mechanism and onto the conveyor mechv anism.

It is another object of the present invention to provide with a container feeding mechanism and in timed relation therewith a cover applying mechanism which will automatically place the covers on the containers as they are advanced under the cover applying mechanism by the conveyor mechanism which is also connected in timed relation with both the container feeding and cover applying mechanisms, all mechanisms being operated by the same source of power.

It is another object of the present invention to provide in a cover applying mechanism adapted to place covers upon containers wherein the cover is retained and supported on the mechanism while being placed over the container by spring tension means acting upon the fingers to grip the cover and wherein the release of these bearing parts downwardly onto the container is effected by a cam shaft operating thereover and wherein the release of the cover is effected by a cam on the same shaft.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a container feeding and cover applying apparatus which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, automatic in operation, compact, has space permitting the easy filling of the containers, has a minimum number of parts and efficient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the apparatus embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view similar to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view looking down upon the cover applying mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the apparatus and looking in particular upon the cover applying mechanism with the cover applying carriage in position to receive a. cover from the stack.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end elevational view similar to Fig. 4, but with the carriage and cover moved to a position over the container where the cover may be applied thereto.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the container feeding mechanism with the parts extended to hold a container supported on the inwardly thrust members thereof.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top plan View of th container feeding mechanism and similar to Fig. 6, but with the lower members retracted to permit the release of the container through the mechanism and its deposit upon the conveyor mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows thereof.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 7 and looking in the direction of the arrows thereof.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional View taken through the container supporting and holding members for the stack and illustrating the manner in which the bottom container is released from the stack.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary and sec tional. view of the cover applyingmechanism and illustrating the manner in which the cover is retained while being placed upon the container showing in particular the retaining fingers gripping the cover and the tension spring acting upon the fingers at all times and the members for releasing the grip of the fingers upon the cover.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken on line |2|2 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows thereof and showing in particular the cover applying carriage.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of the container feeding mechanism as viewed on line |3|3 of Fig. 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows thereof.

Generally, this apparatus compries a container feed mechanism 20 adapted to drop containers, one at a time, a conveyor mechanism 2| for receiving the containers and a cover applying mechanism 23 adapted to apply the covers after the containers have been transferred to the cover applying mechanism 23 by the conveyor mechanism. All of these mechanisms are supported upon a common frame structure 24 and are driven by a common and interconnected drive arrangement 25 which is powered by an electric motor 26 supported in the frame structure 24.

The electric motor 26, Fig. 1, has a reduction gear housing 2'! and a drive pulley or sprocket 26. A chain 29 connects the drive sprocket 26 with a sprocket 3| fixed to a shaft 32 which is journalled upon one end of the frame structure 24. This shaft 32 has a crank arm 33 that is pivotally connected to a long connecting rod or link 34, that through its connection 35 a reciprocating member 36 in the frame structure, containers 3? are advanced from left to right, as shown in Fig. 1, through the frame structure and from the container feed mechanism 29 to the cover applying mechanism 23 and out of the right end of the frame structure 24 complete with the covers and to be carried away. At a station between the container feed mechanism 20 and the cover applying mechanism and while still traveling upon the conveyor mechanism H, the containers 31 are filled with the goods or material being packaged.

The reciprocating supporting member 36 is disposed between two stationary supports or rails 38 and 39, Fig. 4, adapted to support the containers 3'! while the reciprocating member 36 is returned to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, to make another stroke to the right for again moving the containers. The containers are thus stepped along the rails 38 and 39. These rails are supported by vertical members 46 and 4| forming a part of the frame of the conveyor mechanism and a part of the main frame structure 24. Connecting the respective supporting rails 38 and 39 are upwardly extending guard rails 42 and 43 to which the respective vertical supports 46 and 4| are connected.

On the reciprocating member 36 are upstanding projections 44 adapted to engage with the ends of the containers 31 whereby to positively position them upon the reciprocating member 36 so that they will not slip relative thereto as they are being advanced by the reciprocating member 36. In order that these projections 44 of the reciprocating member 36 can be made free after the containers have been laid upon the rails 38 and 39 and so that the reciprocating member 36 can have its return movement, the reciprocating member is lowered under its weight for the return stroke.

Connected'to the guard rails 42 and 43'for piv otal movement are bell cranks 45 and 46 longitudinally spaced from one another and carrying respectively rollers 41 and 48 on which the reciprocating member 36 rests and is supported for movement. These bell cranks 45 and 46 respectively have depending arms 49 and 56 which are connected together by a rod 5| to effect their operation in unison. As the rod 5| is moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, the bell cranks 45 and 46 will be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction and the reciprocating support 36 will be lifted. To pivot these bell cranks, the bell cranks 45 bear against cams 53. For this purpose, there is provided upon the bell cranks 45 cam followers 54. 'I'hese cams 53 are secured to a shaft 55, Fig. 2, which has a sprocket 56. A chain 51 extends about the sprocket 56, an idler sprocket 58 and a driving sprocket 59 secured to the shaft 32 and forming a part of the driving arrangement 25.

It will now be apparent that the conveyor mechanism is such that these containers are stepped along from one station to another by the reciprocating member that is lowered and raised in proper timed relation with the reciprocating motion in order to engage the containers 3'! and to disengage them for the return stroke of the reciprocating member. The containers 31 come to rest upon the rails 33 and 39 while the reciprocating member 36 is making its return stroke.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 6, '7, 8, 9, 10 and 13, 66 and 6| represent upstanding vertical supports for the container feed mechanism 20. These supports are a part of the frame structure 24 and extend upwardly from base 24' on which the driving motor 26 rests. These vertical supports lie on the opposite sides of the frame and support a main horizontally extending plate 62 which has a large central opening 63 therein, Figs. 6 and 7. On each side of the plate 62 is a pair of reciprocating container supporting blades 64 adapted to support a container 31 in the manner, as shown in Fig. 8. Each of these blades 64 are slidable on the top surface of the plate 62 and is held between spaced guides 65 and 66 secured to the top surface of the main supporting plate 62 by screws 61. Extending upwardly from each container supporting blade is a post 68 that is engaged by an operating cam 69 serving to move the blade 64 rearwardly from the opening 63 to release the container 3'! in order that it may drop through the opening 63 and onto the conveyor mechanism 24. In order that the blades 64 on each side of the main sup porting plate 62 may operate in unison, their rear ends are connected together by a tie member lO to which is connected a tension spring TI. The spring II is anchored to one of the screws 61 that retains the guide bar 66 upon the plate 62. By means of this spring H and the tie member 10 the post 68 of the blades 64 are urged against the cam 69 so as to effect the inward movement of the blades 64 to retain a succeeding container 3?.

In order to hold the stack of containers while the bottom container is being released and to provide means for positively detaching the bottom container from the stack, there is provided on each side of the main plate 62 and above the container supporting blades 64, a transversely extending blade supporting member 12 having angle bent ends 12'. On each angle bent end is a blade edge 13 adapted to engage with flange 37 of the container 3'! to support the stack of the containers while the bottom container 31 is loosened from the stack by tiltable blades 15 and released from blades 64 through the opening 83. The tiltable blades 15 are carried loosely upon the member 12 and in the angle bent ends 12' thereof and below the holding edges 13. These tilting blades have edges 15' which will engage with the flanges 31' of the container and when their outer ends are elevated the edges 15' will be lowered so that the bottom container is separated from the stack. The stack of containers will then be supported from the edge 13 while the blades 84 are retracted to allow the bottom container 31 to pass downwardly through the opening 63. The edge 15' has a downwardly inclined face so that as the supporting member 12 is moved inwardly, the tiltable blades 15 will be worked over the flange of the bottom container 31 and similarly the edge 13 will be worked under the flange of the succeeding container 31 of the stack.

A transverse supporting member 12 is connected to a slide plate 16 that is slidable in grooves in upstanding guide members 11 and 18, Fig. 2, extending upwardly from the top of the main supporting plate 62. On the slide plate 16 is a large upstanding abutment 19 that is engaged by an operating cam 80 to move the supporting member 12 and the container corner engaging edges thereof inwardly into their operating positions. To hold the abutment 19 against the cam 80 and the corner engaging edges retracted, a tension spring 8I is connected between a depending post 82 on the slide plate 16 and an upstanding post 83 on the main plate 62. The springs 8| are shown in Fig. 8.

At each end of the supporting plate 62 is a bell crank device indicated generally at 85 for effecting the tilting of the blades or container separating members 15, Fig. 13. This device 84 includes two bell cranks 85 and 86 respectively pivoted on brackets 81 and 88 and connected together by a link 89 so as to be operated in unison. The ends of the bell cranks 85 and 86 will respectively engage the outer ends of the tiltable separating members 15. The bell crank device 84 is operated by a cam 90 ngageable with the connecting member 89. The device 84 has a tension spring 9 I connected between its bell crank and the plate 62, Fig. 13, whereby to keep the device out of contact with the tiltable members 15 so that by gravity the outer ends of the tiltable members 15 will hold the engaging edge 15 normally close to the edge 13 and elevated to the full line position as shown in Fig. 10. When the cam 90 engages with the connecting member 89, the device is operated against the action of the spring 9| and will positively lift the tiltable members 15 to cause their edges to bear against the flanged upper edges of the container 31 and to chain 93 is transmitted to the container feed mechanism 20.

On the shaft 98 is one cam 80, two cams 69 and two cams 90. These cams are shaped and angled relative to one another to effect the proper timing of the movement of the parts operated by them. The cam 80 operates the upper blade supporting member 12 and the container corner engaging blades 13 and 15 while the cams 69 oppositively separate the bottom container 31 from the other containers of the stack.

The shaft 55 has a sprocket 92 to drive a vertically extending chain 93 that connects with a sprocket 94 on a drive box 95, Fig. 1. The container feed mechanism has upstanding end plates I02 whereby the shaft 99 may be driven from.. the shaft 98. The drive box 95 is mounted on the end'lplate 96 and receives the shaft 98 so that power transmitted to the. drive box by the crate the lower container supporting blades 64. The earns operate the devices 84 for tilting the container separating blades 15.

It will thus be seen that as the containers are dropped from the container feed mechanism onto the conveyor mechanism 2| that they will be stepped along the conveyor mechanism to a location intermediate the container feed mechanism and the cover applying mechanism 23 where they may be filled with food or other goods and that thereafter they will arrive at the cover applying apparatus 23.

The cover applying apparatus is driven from the drive box 95. Shaft 98 has an extension that passes through the drive box and is connected to a universal joint I04. This universal joint is connected by an inclined drive shaft I05 with a universal joint I06 of a drive box I01 mounted upon the cover applying mechanism 23.

The cover applying mechanism 24 has vertically extending supports I08. On these vertical supports are upstanding plates I09 and H0 between which extends a drive shaft II I that extends into the drive box I01 which is carried on the plate I09. The shaft III extends through the plate I I0 and has a sprocket I I2 thereon. This sprocket has a chain II3 that in turn extends over a sprocket II4 of a shaft II5 extending between the plates I09 and H0 and journalled therein is a sprocket I I 6 on a shaft I I1, Fig. 3, and an idler sprocket II8 mounted on the upright supports I08. The shaft HT is journalled between plate I I9 and I28, Fig. 3, and operates a linkage I2I that includes a member I22 that is connected to a cover applying carriage I23 whereby to effect the shifting of the carriage from the position shown in Fig. 4 to receive a cover to the position shown in Fig. 5 to apply the cover to a container 31. The carriage I24 has a slide I25 which has side tongues I26 that slide in grooved guides I21 secured to the respective plates I09 and I I0 and to the support I68. The link I22 is pivotally connected to the cover applying carriage I23 at I29, Fig. 12. The link I22 is pivotally connected to link I30 of the linkage I2I by a pivot pin I 3| Fig. 3, and coupling parts I32 and I33. The carriage 123 is thus reciprocated across the guides I21.

.The'carriage I23 further has depending guide plates I34 secured together at their lower ends by bolts I35, Fig. 12, and between which may be vertically adjusted a plunger shaft I36 having a cover receiving plate I31 at its lower end. A stop pin I38 holds the plunger rod I36 against further upward displacement under the action of tension springs I38 extending between the cover engaging plate I 31 and the slide plate I25. To move the cover engaging plate I31 downwardly, it must be effected against the action of the springs I38.

Extending upwardly from the cover engaging plate I31 of the carriage I23 are vertical plates I39 connected together by bolts I40. Pivotally connected to the ends of these plates are respectively fingers MI and I42, Fig. 11, which engage with the inner sides of flanges I43 of cover I44.

These fingers are pivoted on pins I45. The

7 fingers are urged outwardly against the flanges I43 of the covers by a tension spring I46 connected between the fingers and to projections I41 disposed respectively thereon. The upper ends of each finger has a cam surface I48. These fingers are engaged by depending fingers I40 and I50 which are secured respectively to bolts or shafts I40 journalled in the upstanding plates I39. Thebolt I 40 at the right end of the carriage I23, as shown in Fig. 5, has an upstanding arm II to effect the operation of the depending arm upon the finger I42. The shaft I has an arm I52 that is pivotally connected to a link I53. This link I53 is pivotally connected to an arm I 54 connected to shaft I40 at the opposite side of the carriage. Through this linkage the shafts I40 will be rotated and both the operating arms I49 and I will bear simultaneously against the fingers MI and I42 to withdraw their engaging ends from the cover. This operation is positive and when the cover I44 is in place upon the container I31, the carriage I23 is released therefrom in this manner.

On the side plate I26 is an upstanding bracket I55 to which a depending bell crank I56 is pivotally connected. This bell crank engages with the operating arm I5I and more particularly with the roller I51 thereof, Fig. 12, whereby to move the operating arm I5I inwardly. A cam I58 on shaft III, Fig. 3, serves to operate the bell crank I56 when the carriage is located thereunder. Also at this station of the carriage alarge cam I59 on the same shaft III serves to push downwardly the plunger rod I36 and the cover engaging plate I31 to position the cover upon the top of the container and in tight fitting engagement therewith.

After the cover has been connected to the container 31, the carriage I23 is withdrawn from its extended position, as shown in Fig. 5, to the position shown in Fig. 4 to obtain another cover. On the base 24 of the frame structure is a shiftable cover supplying mechanism I60. This mechanism is adapted to cary two stacks of covers. The mechanism is shiftable in guides I 6I and I62, Fig. 4, so that while one stack of covers is being used a second stack of covers can be supplied to the other end of the mechanism. The mechanism is manually shifted when the last of the covers of a stack have been reached.

This cover supplying mechanism has four supports I63 at each end thereof to support the separate stacks of covers. The inner support I63 has small lugs fixed thereto to engage the top of the uppermost cover. These lugs are indicated at I64. On the inner vertical supports I63 there are provided bearing brackets I65 in which there are pivoted upstanding pivotal members I66 having projections I61 adapted to engage with the opposite sides of the covers and removable therefrom. On the brackets I65 are downwardly inclined projections I68 to which a tension spring I69 is connected. This tension spring is connected to the lower end of the pivotal member I66 to urge the projection I61 toward the edge of the cover I44. On the upper end of the pivotal member IE6 is a pivotable abutment I10 which is engaged by a projection ill of the carriage to remove the projection I61 of the pivotal member I66 from the cover as the carriage is returned to a position to receive the new cover. The projection I64 is so shaped that upon release of the projection I61 the cover I44 can be easily worked from thereunder.

At each set of posts I63, covers I 44 are stacked upona follower I13 which is-urg'ed upwardly by 8 pulley weights I14. The weight I14 is slidable upon guide posts I 15 and is connected to the follower I13 through cables I16 that extend over pulleys I11 of shaft I18.

Shaft II5 has a cam I11 which engages with the plunger rod I36. The plunger rod has a roller I16 on the upper end thereof, Fig. 12. The shaft I I5 also has an arm I19 and a roller I that engages with the bell crank I56.

By the continuous motion of the linkage I2I, the cover applying carriage I23 is moved back and forth from the stack of covers and the containers on the conveyor mechanism. All of the mechanisms of the apparatus are operated by the same electric motor 26 and are all driven in timed relation with one another.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is'claimed is:

l. A container feeding and cover applying apparatus comprising a frame structure, conveyor mechanism supported on the frame structure and adapted to advance containers through the apparatus, container feed mechanism lying over one end of the conveyor mechanism and adapted to drop containers one at a time thereupon, a cover applying apparatus disposed on the frame structure and above the opposite end of the conveyor mechanism, cover supplying mechanism operable in connection with the cover applying mechanism, said cover applying mechanism having a reciprocating cover applying carriage operable between containers on the conveyor mechanism and the cover supply mechanism, and a driving arrangement including a common power source connected to the conveyor, container feed and cover applying mechanisms to operate the same in timed relationship with respect to one another, and said drive arrangement including a driving motor and a shaft journalled in the frame structure, said conveyor mechanism having a reciprocating member, a crank arm connected to said shaft and rotatable therewith, a driving rod connected to the crank arm and to the reciprocating member of the conveyer mechanism, a secondary shaft journalled on the frame structure and having a cam, said conveyor mechanism having bell crank means for lifting said reciprocating member and operable by said cam, said container feed. and cover applying mechanisms having respectively drive boxes thereupon,

- each of said drive boxes having shafts extending from the same and universal joints disposed respectively upon said shafts, a common driving member connected between the universal joints, and said secondary shaft drivingly connected to the drive box of the container feed mechanism.

2. In a container feeding mechanism, vertical supports, a transversely extending supporting plate carried by said supports and having a centralopening therein through which a container may be discharged, parallel guide members secured to the plate at the opposite sides of the opening, blades adjustable between the parallel guides to positions over the opening whereby to support a stack of containers, other guides eX- tending upwardly from the supporting plate, a slide adjustable in said guides, an operating member having angle bent ends, holdin blades extending from the angle bent ends and adapted to engage with the flanges of the containers at the corners thereof, tiltable blades associated with the respective holding blades and adapted to engage with the upper edge of the lowermost container, devices disposed respectively at,the opposite ends of the supporting plate and engageable with said tiltable blades to pivot the same and effect the separation of the lowermost container from the stack upon the lower supporting blades being retracted, abutments on the lower supporting blades and upon the adjustable operating member, cams engageable with said abutments and with said blade tilting devices, said cams being disposed at the opposite sides of the plate to operate respectively the parts thereupon, a shaft connected with the respective sets of cams and driving means connecting the shafts together for operation in unison.

3. A container feeding mechanism as defined in claim 2 and each of said devices for operating the tiltable blades comprising brackets on said plate spaced from one another, bell cranks connected respectively to said brackets and having one end engageable with a tiltable blade, the bell cranks being connected together by a connecting link for operation in unison and the operating cams engageable with a connecting link to operate said bell cranks.

4. In combination, a frame structure, a conveyor mechanism mounted on the frame structure, said conveyor mechanism havin stationary side rail supports, a reciprocating member operable between the side rail supports and adapted to engage with the bottom of the containers to move the same relative to the side rail supports, lifting means engageable with the reciprocating member to lift the containers and to relieve the reciprocating member therefrom, said reciprocating member having upstanding projections for receiving and retaining the containers against slippage along the reciprocating member, drive means comprising a shaft, an electric motor having an output member, means operable between the output member and the shaft to rotate the shaft, a crank fixed to the shaft and rotatable therewith and means connected to said crank and reciprocating member to reciprocate the same, a secondary shaft having means drivingly connecting said secondary shaft from said first mentioned shaft, said secondary shaft having cam means thereon engageable with the lifting means to effect the operation of the same, a

container feeding mechanism disposed above the conveyor mechanism and having a supporting plate with a central opening, blade elements for receiving and supporting a stack of containers and operable to discharge the containers one at a time through the opening and onto the conveyor mechanism, shaft means operating said blades and drive means connected between said secondary shaft and said shaft means for operating said shaft means of the container feed mechanism.

5. In a cover applying mechanism for containers, vertical supports, guide members spaced from one another and connected between the supports, upstanding plates connected to said guide members, a slide adjustable on the guide members, a depending structure connected to said slide, an adjustable plunger extending through the depending structure and upwardly through the slide, a cover engaging member on the lower end of said plunger, spring means urging said cover engaging member toward said slide, finger elements pivotally connected to the cover engaging member and spring means biasing said elements for engagement with the cover, linkage means on the depending structure and engageable with the pivotable fingers to release the same, said linkage means having depending arms engageable with said fingers and a linkage ex- .tendin-g between the arms to operate the same simultaneously, said linkage having an upstanding member, cam means extending between the upstanding plates and engageable with the plunger to depress the, same and with the upstanding means of the linkage to operate the linkage.

6. A cover applying mechanism as defined in claim 5 and a second cam means, a cover supplying mechanism disposed under the guides, a second cam means for operating said fingers and the plunger when the parts of the carriage are positioned over the cover supplying mechanism.

7. A cover applying mechanism as'defined in claim 5 and a second cam means, a cover supplying mechanism disposed under the guides, a second cam means for operating said fingers and the plunger when the parts of the carriage are positioned over the coversupplying mechanism, and

drive means connected to said cam means and comprising a crank adapted to be driven therefrom and linkage including parts pivotally connected to one another and connected with the slide to effect the lateral adjustment of the same along the guides.

8. A cover applying mechanism as defined in claim 5 and a second cam means, a cover supplying mechanism disposed under the guides, a

second camlmeans for operating said fingers and the plunger when the parts of the carriage are positioned over the cover supplying mechanism, andudrive means connected to said cam means and comprising a crank adapted to be driven therefrom and linkage including parts pivotally connected to one another and connected with the slide to effect the lateral adjustment of the same along the guides, and said cover supply mechanism having upright supports, a transverse support for a stack of covers, weight means urging saidsupport upwardly, a projection at one side of the mechanism'engaging with the uppermost cover and a pivotal member at the opposite side of the mechanism and having a projection engaging with the opposite side of the cover, said carriage upon being adjusted over the cover supplying mechanism serving to operate said pivotal member to release the uppermost cover.

9. A container feeding and cover applying apparatus comprising a frame structure, conveyor mechanism supported on the frame structure and adapted to advance containers through the apparatus, container feed mechanism lying over one end of the conveyor mechanism and adapted to drop containers one .at a time thereupon, a cover applying apparatus disposed on the frame structure and above the opposite end of the conveyor mechanism, a cover supplying mechanism operable in connection with the cover applying mechanism, said cover applying mechanism having a reciprocating cover applying carriage operable between containers on the conveyor mechanism and the cover supply mechanism, a driving arrangement including a common power source connected to the conveyor, container feed and cover applying mechanisms to operate the same in timed relationship with respect to one another, said container feeding mechanism being adapted to receive a stack of containers and having a main supporting plate with a central opening therein, blades adjustable upon said main supporting plate over the opening to support a stack of containers, other blades elevated therefrom adjustable toward and away from the opening and into and out of engagement with the corners of the containers, tiltable blades for separating the lower container from the stack and associated with the blades extendable into the corners of the containers, operating devices for tilting said separating blades and cam means for adjusting said blades and for eifecting the operation of the operating devices for theseparating blades, said drive means connected to said cam means to operate the same.

10. A container feeding and cover applying apparatus comprising a frame structure, conveyor mechanism supported on the frame structure and adapted to advance containers through the apparatus, container feed mechanism lying over one end of the conveyor mechanism and adapted to drop containers one at a time thereupon, a cover applying apparatus disposed on the frame structure and above the opposite end of the conveyor mechanism, cover supplying mechanism operable in connection with the cover applying mechansim, said cover applying mechanism having a reciprocating cover applying carriage operable between containers on the conveyor mechanism and the cover supply mechanism, a driving arrangement including a common power source connected to the conveyor, container feed and cover applying mechanisms to operate the same in timed relationship with respect to one another, said cover applying mechanism including further a slide, guide members disposed in the opposite sides of the slide to support the same. and said carriage including the slide and having a plunger rod, cover engaging means on the lower end of the plunger, fingers connected to the cover engaging means and biased to extend into gripping engagement with the cover, spring means normally urging the upward displacement of the carriage and plunger rod, linkage means engageable with the fingers to release the same from their gripping engagement with the cover and common cam means engageable with the plunger rod to depress the same and with the linkage means of the fingers to release the fingers from the cover.

11. A container feeding and cover applying apparatus comprising a frame structure, conveyor mechanism supported on the frame structure and adapted to advance containers through the apparatus, container feed mechanism lying over one end of the conveyor mechanism and adapted to drop containers one at a time thereupon, a cover applying apparatus disposed on the frame structure and above the opposite end of the conveyor mechanism, cover supplying mechanism operable in connection with the cover applying mechanism, said 'cover applying mechanism having a reciprocating cover applying carriage operable between containers on the conveyor mechanism and the cover supply mechanism, a driving arrangement including a common power source connected to the conveyor, container feed and cover applying mechanisms to operate the same in timed relationship with respect to one another, said cover supply mechanism including upright vertical supports, a supporting member for a stack of said covers, weight means operable upon the support member to urge the covers upwardly, a fixed projection engageable with the uppermost cover, a pivotal member upon the upright support and having a projection engageable with the opposite side of the cover, said pivotal member engageable by the cover applying carriage as it is shifted from the conveyor over the cover supplying mechanism whereby to release the uppermost cover for engagement with the cover applying mechanism.

GORDON HAMMOND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,734,107 Bergmann et al Nov. 5, 1929 1,734,108 Bergmann et a1 Nov. 5, 1929 1,750,419 Mojonnier et a1. Mar. 11, 1930 1,913,743 Borchert June 13, 1933 2,029,299 Anderson Nov. 4, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 419,239 Great Britain Nov. 8, 1934 

